My research is focused on the development of robust and cost-effective
protocols for human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) expansion and
highly-controlled differentiation under xeno-free conditions. In a
first stage this project will develop a scalable culture platform for
monolayer expansion and differentiation of hPSC into dopaminergic
neurons using synthetic high-affinity peptide ligands. Simultaneously,
purification methods (such as affinity chromatography with monolithic
cryogels, magnetic activated cell sorting and microfluidic systems)
will be tested to overcome one of the greatest hurdles related to the
use of hPSC. Although these cells have an enormous potential for
clinical applications and for developmental studies, due to their
ability to generate cells from the three embryonic germ layers, they
proliferate rather fast and may give origin to tumors when transplanted
in vivo and may alter the phenotype, if present, in in vitro
differentiated cell-populations. Clinical applications with cells
derived from hPSCs will only be possible with the use of a cost
effective cell purification method integrated in a bioprocess capable
of, specifically and efficiently, generating terminally differentiated
hPSC-derived cells, under xeno-free conditions. Finally, knowing that
the use of embryonic stem cells raises a lot of ethical concerns and
does not overcomes immunorejection hurdles, this project will be
developed, mainly, with the use of an human induced pluripotent stem
cell line.